Hdaya guides

Civil status in Morocco: register a birth or death

Last checked 24 October 2026

In short

You have 30 days from the day after a birth or death to register it at your commune's civil status office, and one year if you live abroad. After that the registration becomes late and needs an authorisation.

What to prepare before you go

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Step by step

  1. Register the birth or death

    Commune civil status office, or the consulate if you live abroad

    A birth or death must be registered within 30 days from the day after it happens. Moroccans living abroad have one year. The hospital or local authority makes the first declaration, then a relative or their representative completes the file (decree 2.22.04, Article 40).

    0 to 30 days Source

  2. Get the paper that proves the event

    Hospital, doctor, midwife or local authority, depending on the case

    For a birth, you need the electronic medical certificate or an administrative birth certificate. For a death, the medical or administrative death certificate; if the death happened in unusual circumstances, the public prosecutor's permission is needed. Other papers vary by case, so ask the office before you go.

    0 to 60 days Source

  3. If the deadline has passed

    Civil status department and the central authority

    After the deadline, registration is no longer routine: it needs an authorisation from the central authority, requested by whoever has an interest. The decree sets 60 days for the decision. If the request is refused, the court route remains open in the cases the law lists (law 36-21, Article 21; decree 2.22.04, Article 41).

  4. Ask for a copy or update the family record book

    Civil status office or the digital portal, depending on the service your commune offers

    The new law provides for a national register and an electronic family record book, and allows some services to be requested remotely. This is being rolled out gradually, and the old paper book is still valid. Ask your commune how it works there.

  5. Correct a mistake in the record

    Civil status office or court, depending on the type of mistake

    A simple clerical mistake is corrected at the administration; a substantial mistake or a change of name follows the procedure set by the law. Before you start, ask whether your mistake is clerical or substantial (law 36-21, Articles 34 and 48 to 51).

The official route

Commune civil status office

Start with your commune's civil status office, or with the Moroccan consulate if you live abroad. The law provides for a digital portal, but services are arriving gradually: ask your commune before counting on an online request.

Official page

The people who can help

Do you work in this field? People in your city read this guide.

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Registering a birth: before you go to the commune

  • Take the hospital or midwife's certificate, your CIN, and the family record book if you have one.
  • Before you leave the office, read the name and the date of birth carefully. If you spot a mistake, point it out to the clerk on the spot.
  • A death is the first step of an inheritance: see inheritance papers. A marriage is written in the margin of the birth record: see marriage papers.

Before you travel

The deadlines and steps above come from law 36-21 and decree 2.22.04. Digital services and extra papers vary by commune and by case, so call or ask at the office before you go.

How much does it cost?

We found no official source giving a single fee for all services, so we quote no figure. Ask the civil status office about the fees for your file.

If your file is complicated, such as a late registration or a substantial mistake, a lawyer in your city can guide you, and you can find one on Hdaya.

Questions people ask

How long do I have to register a birth or death?

30 days from the day after the event, and one year for a Moroccan living abroad (decree 2.22.04, Article 40).

I missed the deadline. Is it over?

No, but you go through the late registration procedure, which needs an authorisation from the central authority. The decree sets 60 days for the decision.

Can I ask for a copy from another city?

Law 36-21 provides for a national register and civil status offices in Morocco and abroad. Ask your nearest office which service works today.

Is the paper family record book no longer valid?

It is still valid under the transitional provisions, even though the new law provides for an electronic book. Take it with you if you have one.

Official sources

Procedures change. If something here is out of date, tell us and we will check it again.

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